A-List Standby is free for ANY earlier flight starting March 8, 2017
Mar 15, 2017, 4:09 pm
#46
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: USA
Programs: Chase Sapphire Reserve, WFBF
Posts: 1,573
The downside as you mention is that someone seeking a lower price could buy a later (cheaper) flight and then standby for the desired flight. However, I don't see this as a very attractive option. If the desired flight has a higher price at the time of booking, it's probably more heavily booked, which means the chances of getting on with standby would be small. Plus, anyone who values 2+ hours of their time less than the difference in fare probably isn't going to buy the more expensive flight anyway (with or without the standby option).
Mar 16, 2017, 11:00 am
#47
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 5,813
Has anyone called ahead to see what availability for standby is? If so what was the response?
When I flew Airtran a lot I had the same benefit (although you could also try to take a later flight) and I could call the Elite phone line and they would tell me generally what the situation was , "Sold Out" "less than 5", "less than 10", "more that 10" etc. Sometimes they would say, something like "You'll have no problem".
When I flew Airtran a lot I had the same benefit (although you could also try to take a later flight) and I could call the Elite phone line and they would tell me generally what the situation was , "Sold Out" "less than 5", "less than 10", "more that 10" etc. Sometimes they would say, something like "You'll have no problem".
Apr 4, 2017, 6:57 pm
#48
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 112
Only a gate agent can put you and your companion on standby on an earlier flight.
You cannot exercise this new benefit on your own.
There is ALWAYS a risk that you (as an A lister) could be cleared off the standby list but your companion (due to his/her lower standby priority) would not. So, it is important to check before you leave for the airport to confirm that there are 8 seats still for sale on the flights on which you might want to standby.
You cannot exercise this new benefit on your own.
There is ALWAYS a risk that you (as an A lister) could be cleared off the standby list but your companion (due to his/her lower standby priority) would not. So, it is important to check before you leave for the airport to confirm that there are 8 seats still for sale on the flights on which you might want to standby.
However, this was a connecting flight, and the printer stopped working so they were unable to print a pass for that flight or the connecting flight. At the next airport (hou) the gate agent said they couldn't give me a boarding pass until they cleared everyone. Is that how that's supposed to work? If I had known I could be stuck in another city I wouldn't have boarded the flight. I assumed once you were on the first flight you would be confirmed to your destination. Am I wrong?
Apr 7, 2017, 4:52 pm
#49
Join Date: Apr 2011
Programs: Southwest A-List, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 56
Just got on an earlier flight from LAX with a companion. Can confirm that the ticketing agent was able to put us both on standby. I'm glad I didn't wait to go to the gate because our luggage would not have made it. When in doubt go to the ticketing agent so your bags will be on an earlier flight. The earlier flight was oversold and they asked for volunteers but we were able to make the flight as the last two people on.
However, this was a connecting flight, and the printer stopped working so they were unable to print a pass for that flight or the connecting flight. At the next airport (hou) the gate agent said they couldn't give me a boarding pass until they cleared everyone. Is that how that's supposed to work? If I had known I could be stuck in another city I wouldn't have boarded the flight. I assumed once you were on the first flight you would be confirmed to your destination. Am I wrong?
However, this was a connecting flight, and the printer stopped working so they were unable to print a pass for that flight or the connecting flight. At the next airport (hou) the gate agent said they couldn't give me a boarding pass until they cleared everyone. Is that how that's supposed to work? If I had known I could be stuck in another city I wouldn't have boarded the flight. I assumed once you were on the first flight you would be confirmed to your destination. Am I wrong?
Apr 9, 2017, 6:11 pm
#50
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 9
Data point: A-lister scheduled on the 9:30p OAK-ONT. Arrived at ~7:30p, saw that the 7:30p OAK-ONT was delayed to 8:15p. Asked the ticketing agent about standby, said I had no checked bags. Agent immediately printed out standby passes for myself and my companion and said to hurry through security because boarding was about to begin. Flight was wide open and away we went - score! Glad to see the CP is so easy to use with this benefit
Apr 10, 2017, 1:02 am
#51
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 1,868
Data point: A-lister scheduled on the 9:30p OAK-ONT. Arrived at ~7:30p, saw that the 7:30p OAK-ONT was delayed to 8:15p. Asked the ticketing agent about standby, said I had no checked bags. Agent immediately printed out standby passes for myself and my companion and said to hurry through security because boarding was about to begin. Flight was wide open and away we went - score! Glad to see the CP is so easy to use with this benefit
Apr 10, 2017, 6:35 am
#52
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
Programs: WN Companion Pass, A-list preferred, Hyatt Globalist; United Club Lietime (sic) Member
Posts: 21,620
Apr 10, 2017, 9:47 am
#53
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 5,813
You can call in and they will tell you if there are seats available. Depending on who you get they might tell you the exact number of some vague approximation.
Apr 10, 2017, 2:26 pm
#54
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: ORD, MDW or MKE
Programs: American and Southwest. Hilton and Marriott hotels primarily.
Posts: 6,459
If I were Southwest management, I would stop this in its tracks and forbid phone agents from giving out this info. I don't want my agents time being taken up by people vaguely contemplating getting on an earlier flight.
Apr 10, 2017, 2:40 pm
#55
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 5,813
That makes little sense to me. If you are A-list (the only people who qualify) you are already one of their better customers and they should help you out. As far as I can tell there are generally only about 10 A-listers on the average flight (but it could be more in some markets). It also gives them a seat to sell later or maybe help an oversold situation.
Apr 10, 2017, 3:02 pm
#56
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: ORD, MDW or MKE
Programs: American and Southwest. Hilton and Marriott hotels primarily.
Posts: 6,459
Apr 14, 2017, 5:40 am
#60
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Dallas
Posts: 130
That makes little sense to me. If you are A-list (the only people who qualify) you are already one of their better customers and they should help you out. As far as I can tell there are generally only about 10 A-listers on the average flight (but it could be more in some markets). It also gives them a seat to sell later or maybe help an oversold situation.